By M. Waddington
Divorce is not only an emotional time, but a financially challenging one as well. Each spouse has to adjust to not having another income to help pay the mortgage, grocery bills and utilities. Even in cases where a wife or husband is awarded alimony or child support in a Georgia divorce, the amount still may not be enough to keep them in the lifestyle they were used to living.
One of the most, if not the most, expensive aspects of divorce are the attorneys fees. For that reason some spouses consider going pro se and represent themselves in court. Many people have filed Georgia pro se divorces. However, any spouse should consider if he or she is prepared to handle the following issues on their own:
• Child custody, child support and visitation. Unfortunately in many cases children get caught up in the divorce battles. Even in the best cases, the spouses fight over custody because both are truly good parents and each wants custody of the children. If you believe you are the better parent, do you know how to prove that to the court? Can you defend yourself is saddled with a large child support payment? Who will be responsible for the child’s health insurance?
• Division of the assets. If you were married for many years you have likely accumulated many assets. Are you and your former spouse in agreement as to how to split up those assets? If there is a house, who gets the house or will it be sold? What about the car? Who is responsible for any outstanding payments on the house or car? Don’t forget about retirement assets and any other type of savings.
• Are there allegations of abuse or infidelity? Can you defend yourself against these allegations?
In reality, even in the friendliest of divorces a Georgia divorce attorney can help sort through the complex legal issues. Until a person is faced with a divorce, he or she may not even know where to go to file the initial paperwork; much less prepare a case if there is a hearing. Simply put, you wouldn’t try performing your own root canal—you would go to a dentist. If you are going through a divorce, you need an attorney who understands the law. Chances are your soon-to-be former spouse has an attorney representing their interests. You could save some money by representing yourself but the long-term financial repercussions could cost you much more.
Michael Waddington is a trial attorney that has been quoted by hundreds of major media sources to include USA Today, Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek, Fox News, Fox and Friends, CNN, MSNBC, CBS News, ABC News and many others. He is the founder of the legal marketing firm, Legal Niche Pros, LLC. Learn more at http://www.legalnichepros.com/.
Article Source: Representing Yourself in a Divorce
Divorce is not only an emotional time, but a financially challenging one as well. Each spouse has to adjust to not having another income to help pay the mortgage, grocery bills and utilities. Even in cases where a wife or husband is awarded alimony or child support in a Georgia divorce, the amount still may not be enough to keep them in the lifestyle they were used to living.
One of the most, if not the most, expensive aspects of divorce are the attorneys fees. For that reason some spouses consider going pro se and represent themselves in court. Many people have filed Georgia pro se divorces. However, any spouse should consider if he or she is prepared to handle the following issues on their own:
• Child custody, child support and visitation. Unfortunately in many cases children get caught up in the divorce battles. Even in the best cases, the spouses fight over custody because both are truly good parents and each wants custody of the children. If you believe you are the better parent, do you know how to prove that to the court? Can you defend yourself is saddled with a large child support payment? Who will be responsible for the child’s health insurance?
• Division of the assets. If you were married for many years you have likely accumulated many assets. Are you and your former spouse in agreement as to how to split up those assets? If there is a house, who gets the house or will it be sold? What about the car? Who is responsible for any outstanding payments on the house or car? Don’t forget about retirement assets and any other type of savings.
• Are there allegations of abuse or infidelity? Can you defend yourself against these allegations?
In reality, even in the friendliest of divorces a Georgia divorce attorney can help sort through the complex legal issues. Until a person is faced with a divorce, he or she may not even know where to go to file the initial paperwork; much less prepare a case if there is a hearing. Simply put, you wouldn’t try performing your own root canal—you would go to a dentist. If you are going through a divorce, you need an attorney who understands the law. Chances are your soon-to-be former spouse has an attorney representing their interests. You could save some money by representing yourself but the long-term financial repercussions could cost you much more.
Michael Waddington is a trial attorney that has been quoted by hundreds of major media sources to include USA Today, Washington Post, New York Times, Newsweek, Fox News, Fox and Friends, CNN, MSNBC, CBS News, ABC News and many others. He is the founder of the legal marketing firm, Legal Niche Pros, LLC. Learn more at http://www.legalnichepros.com/.
Article Source: Representing Yourself in a Divorce
